Horsehead catfish
Goeldiella eques
Also known as Horsehead pimelodid
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 73–82°F
- 23–28°C
- pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Adult size
- 11.4 in
- 29 cm
- Minimum tank
- 106 gal
- 400 L
- Temperament
- Aggressive
- Social behavior
- Solitary
- Tankmates
- With caution
- Swim level
- Bottom
- Diet
- Carnivore
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- No record
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Heptapteridae
- Origin
- Amazon and Guiana drainages
Overview
The horsehead catfish is a predatory, nocturnal catfish for the bottom of a large tank. It is a moderate challenge to keep.
Did you know
The horsehead catfish's species name, eques, is Latin for horseman or knight. Its long, high-browed head gives it common names from both sides of the barnyard. It is sold as both the horsehead and the fox face catfish.
Caring for the horsehead catfish
Give a single horsehead catfish a tank of around 106 gal (400 L) or more. Use a sandy floor and dim lighting, with caves or driftwood for daytime cover. Leave open bottom for it to prowl, since room to move at night matters as much as cover by day.
Keep the water warm and on the soft side of neutral. It does well at 73 to 82°F (23 to 28°C), with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. Feed meaty foods such as earthworms, prawn, mussel and sinking pellets.
The horsehead catfish is aggressive, so keep it on its own or with fish far too large to swallow. It will eat any tank mate that fits in its mouth, so treat small fish and shrimp as food rather than company. Its breeding is not documented in aquaria.
Good to know
Goeldiella eques is a three-barbeled catfish in the family Heptapteridae. It is a hardy, long-lived predator.
In the wild
The horsehead catfish prowls the beds of creeks and rivers across the Amazon and the Guianas. It shelters under wood by day and moves out to hunt after dark.
Common questions
What size tank does a horsehead catfish need?
A horsehead catfish needs at least 106 gal (400 L). It spends most of its time in the bottom.
What temperature and pH does a horsehead catfish need?
A horsehead catfish is comfortable at 73–82°F (23–28°C) with a pH of 6.0–7.5.
What does a horsehead catfish eat?
A horsehead catfish eats meaty foods such as earthworms, prawn, mussel and sinking pellets.
How big does a horsehead catfish get?
An adult horsehead catfish reaches about 11.4 in (29 cm).
How does a horsehead catfish breed?
Horsehead catfish breeding is not documented in aquaria.
Related species
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Pimelodella gracilis
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